Watch OpenAI Play Pokemon Red Live on Twitch

OpenAI’s latest AI model, known as o3, has embarked on an exciting mission to play Pokémon Red, ultimately aiming to defeat the Elite Four and claim the title of Kanto Champion. This innovative experiment is currently being broadcast live on Twitch, having started on May 27, 2025.

During the stream, the AI offers insightful reasoning for its choices, providing viewers with a front-row seat to its decision-making process as it navigates through various game objectives. While the overarching goal is to complete Pokémon Red, the model is approaching this through a series of incremental tasks, ensuring a structured path to victory.

As of the time of writing, o3 has successfully acquired two out of the eight Gym Badges required to challenge the Elite Four. It is currently en route to Vermilion City, where it plans to board the S. S.Anne for the next phase of its adventure. However, the duration to reach this landmark remains uncertain, as each action—ranging from movement to battling—is meticulously evaluated, emphasizing efficiency.

Watch o3 play Pokémon—live. See how it plans its next move, explains its reasoning, analyzes the map visually, and saves to memory. Thank you community member @Clad3815 for putting this stream together! https://t.co/u7L118RTp5 pic.twitter.com/DoediYfaJA

— OpenAI Developers (@OpenAIDevs) May 27, 2025

Understanding OpenAI o3

OpenAI o3 distinguishes itself from general-purpose models like ChatGPT through its advanced reasoning capabilities specifically geared toward complex problem-solving tasks. However, the choice of Pokémon Red as the platform for its demonstration raises questions. The slow-paced nature of this iconic Game Boy title, combined with its intricacies, provides a unique setting for showcasing o3’s prowess.

Historically, Pokémon Red and Blue have served as testbeds for various AI experiments. Notably, in 2014, the phenomenon known as TwitchPlaysPokemon allowed users to collectively control a game of Pokémon Red through viewer polling. This interactive experience gained immense popularity, culminating in the defeat of the game’s final boss, Blue, after an arduous 16-day struggle.

Additionally, the realm of Pokémon gaming has been a focal point for AI testing in recent years. Just a year ago, in April 2025, a software engineer demonstrated Google’s Gemini AI playing Pokémon Blue, showcasing the increasing interest in leveraging classic video games for technological advancements.

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